Luuk’s brother joined the Fracstidus; We have seen him before.
Luuk Herssen’s brother joined the Fracstidus, and we have seen him before.
“Ichor” which is also known as “Golden Serum” initially developed by Luuk’s adoptive father as a medication for rare diseases. Luuk’s father started its development due to his biological son passing away due to a rare disease. As research progressed, it grew rapidly ambitious, seen as the “drug of evolution.” This is when I suspect the Grand Architect took over Luuk’s father’s identity as well as his company, the Novialle Regenerative Group.
The patients, or should I say test subjects, went through torture. They all ultimately withered away, losing themselves to mania from the Ichor’s side effects, and ultimately died. All but two. Luuk was a clear standout. Instead of succumbing to the Ichor, he resonated with it and had been cured, albeit he now has a chronic golden wound that won’t heal where his tacet mark is located, suffered chronic pain, and color blindness.
Not long after his success, Luuk’s father believed it could be replicated, adopting a younger boy with another rare disease.
Rhein Herssen. A bright and happy boy with golden curly locs, pale skin from his illness, and eyes that shone brightly. He loved painting/drawing, candy, and his older brother - Luuk Herssen. Unlike the others, the Ichor proved success in Rhein’s case. At first. Eventually he became another number. Another patient locked to his bed. Barely able to walk. His beautiful hair had lost its color, his bright eyes dimmed to something lifeless, and he held a cold resentment towards his brother, or rather what he represented.
After years in a care facility, Rhein went manic one day without warning. He injured several workers and escaped the facility. I’d like to mention he’d previously been bedridden. While it’s true there are disabled people that are able to walk for short periods, I find it suspicious.
Luuk confronted his younger brother in the Frostlands after his breakdown. Rhein was violent. Luuk couldn’t bring himself to kill his brother—even now with his appearance one of a “creature whose skin was veined with gold.” As a last resort to stop his brother without killing him, he drove both of them into the ice, effectively imprisoning himself and Rhein until the ice melted.
It is unsure what happened to Rhein, who is now claimed missing, and this is where we have to speculate.
I believe the GA took over the experiment in hopes of influencing a Thernodian resonator. He eventually faked his death once he realized there was an easier way. I don’t believe he cut his ties with the experiment or its last remnants. He knew about Luuk infiltrating a Fracstidus base without a doubt once his pen was stolen and began monitoring Luuk and Rhein once again. Whether to get back at Luuk or genuinely try the experiment one last time, he gave Rhein one last, major dosage of Ichor. Luuk had already shut down the facilities that developed and tested Ichor, but GA, once impersonating Luuk’s father, definitely had some in storage. That’s when Rhein rapidly deteriorated and turned manically violent. Once Rhein and Luuk were submerged in ice, the GA got Rhein out, whom was incredibly vulnerable and likely brainwashed him into joining the Fracstidus.
I also suspect Rhein resonated with his actual disease and that’s the reason why he can be a potential Thernodian resonator. Negativity. Fears. Thernodians are amalgamations of humanity’s negativity and seek to consume. Rhein is the perfect Thernodian resonator.
Alright. Now comes the title explanation. I swear I haven’t been baiting you. I’ll link an image below.
This is old concept art. It is outdated and has been rewritten, but there is consistency: Phrolova. Characters that resemble recent releases. Mobs. Not all has been wiped.
I want you to look at the man in the wheelchair. Mutations are prevalent for resonators. I believe the creature behind him is a physical manifestation of Rhein’s dark side - his disease incarnate. Massive rows of teeth for consuming, much like a Thernodian, and what looks like a gold back. The man is pale, looks to have blond faded hair, and I believe may resemble an older, withered Rhein. This is a reach, but I believe much that has been foreshadowed at the beginning of WUWA has happened, as well as lore that was supposed to be rewritten.
I believe this is a theory worth considering. Of course, I am open to people disagreeing with me. In fact, I encourage it. I am simply passionate about lore and am coping Luuk and Rhein’s story will be expanded upon. Hope this wasn’t a tiredly long read!